Black
Ant's Journey to Japan:
A Modern Tanka
Journal

by

Randy Brooks

Published by AHA Online
Books

Preface

In April of 1997 I
had the honor and opportunity to journey
to Japan as a member of a
delegation of poets and editors invited
to attend the 2nd
International Joint Haiku Conference sponsored
by the Haiku Society
of America (HSA) and the Haiku International
Association (HIA).

My
trip began in Chicago, where I stayed with Lee Gurga (the President
of HSA) at his mother-in-law's house the night before our thirteen
hour flight to Japan. I dedicate this journal to Lee, because
of his
tireless efforts to organize international exchanges between
the
Japanese and English language haiku writers. If not for Lee's
vision
of an international conference, I'm sure I would still
be dreaming of
going to Japan in some distant future. Well, the
dream took off on
April 16, 1997.

The first few days were spent in Tokyo, where
we gave talks
on the history of haiku and participated in a
"kukai"
haiku writing experience (in which everyone submits
one anonymous
haiku to be translated and selected by judges) at
Kiyosumi Garden,
the beautiful location for the international haiku
conference.
We also visited the Museum of Haiku Literature, enjoyed a
penthouse
banquet at the top of one of Tokyo's skyscrapers, and
participated
in a reception for haiku writers, translators and
editors at
the U.S. Ambassador's residence.

Our second
leg of the adventure in Japan was to join several
of the Japanese
haiku poets (led by Sensei Yatsuka Ishihara and
Mr. Okada Ritsuo) on
a bus trip to the mountains in Nikko, where
we visited the Toshogu
Shrine and the Nikko Botanical Garden.
And after a traditional
Japanese meal with all of the haiku poets,
and after a good night's
rest, we visited the famous pottery
area of Mashiko.

Some of our group flew to Matsuyama, hosted by Sensei of the
Hoshi
group, Yoshiko Yoshino. Of course, Matsuyama has a great
deal of
haiku heritage, being the home town of Shiki, Santoka
and many other
famous Japanese haiku writers. After speeches,
haiku readings and
luncheons in Matsuyama, and a visit to the
Shiki Haiku Museum, we
enjoyed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony,
a visit to Matsuyama
Castle and the legendary Dogo Spa hot springs
bath. Many of us also
visited Buddhist shrines and temples in
Matsuyama.

This
journey was a dream come true for me, and I continued
to dream I was
in Japan for over a month after my return to Illinois.
I could hear
the melodic Japanese language in my sleep. Finally,
a summer head
cold occupied my head, and my dreams faded away.
This tanka journal
contains the impressions and memories that
will remain with me. I
trust you can see that the little black
ant remain puzzled, but
forever changed, by his journey to Japan.